Convertible cleaning machine for automobile cooling systems and automobile parts



April 15, 1952 A. J. BOYER 93,256

CONVERTIBLE CLEANING MACHINE FOR AUTOMOBILE COOLING SYSTEMS AND AUTOMOBILE PARTS Filed Oct. 8, 1945 INVENTOR. fl/ae/v d 592/" f Patented Apr. 15, 1952 CONVERTIBLE CLEANING MACHINE FOR AUTOMOBILE COOLING SYSTEMS AND AUTOMOBILE PARTS Albert J. Boyer, Kansas City, Kans.

Application October 8, 1945, Serial No. 620,965

1 Claim. 1

vide a cleaning machine for automotive parts and for engine blocks of automobiles, which machine is readily convertible from one capable of receiving the elements being cleaned to one where continuous circulation of the liquid is established through the cavities of an engine and while the cleaning machine is standing adjacent to the automobile.

Other aims of the invention include the unique manner of interconnecting a series of conduits, a pump, and a motor therefor, to cause the assembly to assume the appearance of a unitary device, movable from place-to-place, and particularly to a location where the cleaning ma chine may be used in connection with an automobile engine.

Specific details of construction are important, constitute additional objects, and will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning machine made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine with parts broken away to reveal internal features; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

One of the most aggravating problems presented to repairmen, engineers, and automobile owners, is the inability to apply a cleaning solution to the cooling cavities of an engine block and to parts of automotive equipment for the purpose of removing foreign matter therefrom. Solutions are obtainable on the open market, but so far as I am aware, no means is known to establish forced circulation of the said solution and to collect relatively heavy entrained matter prior to re-use of the liquid.

The machine embodying this invention may be of the form illustrated in the drawing. This selected form may be varied, but should comprise a case wherein may be mounted such of the operating parts as should be housed as well as the quantity of cleaning liquid l2.

A swinging lid l4 serves to close the upper open end of a tank It when the machine is employed in washing or cleaning oily and gritty automotive parts.

This tank It rests upon a frame-work I8 comprising a chassis of the machine and a drain tube 2|] extends from an opening in the bottom of tank Hi to a point near the floor where the used solution I2 may be emptied into a drain. A valve 22 controls the passage of liquid [2 through drain tube 2|].

A parts tray 24 of foraminous material or woven wire, is positionable within tank l6, either as shown in full lines of Fig. 3, or as illustrated in the dotted lines where hooks or similar brackets 25 are swung to engage the upper edge of tank I6 and thereby support the Weight of tray 24 and such parts as may be contained therein.

When tray 24 is in the position shown in full lines of Figs. 2 and 3, it is inverted to create a sump in the bottom where collected foreign matter will not re-enter the stream of liquid I2 pass ing through the hereinafter described conduits.

A pump 26 is driven by motor 28, and pump 26 is connected to conduit 3|] and conduit 32--the former is at the intake port of pump 26, while the latter is connected to the outlet port thereof.

One end of conduit 30 is joined to pump 26 as just described, and the other end thereof is in communication with tank l6 at a point above the bottom of said tank and as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. Conduit 32 is branched into sections 34 and 36, each having a valve therein. operable by handles 38 and 40 respectively.

Section 36 is relatively long and is connected to the water system of an engine to be cleaned while another conduit 42, shown in dot and dash lines of Fig. 3, serves as a return line from the engine being cleaned. This return line is projected intotank l3 and terminates at a point at the bottom of said tank and within parts tray 24.

Under such conditions, the valve in section 34 is closed, the valve in section 36 opened, and pump 26 is being driven by motor 28. The cleaning solution will be pumped in through conduit 33 from tank It, out through conduit 32, and conduit 36, to the motor block, and thence back through conduit 42 to a place within tank l6 where tray 24 serves as a strainer prior to the solution rising to a place where it will re-circulate by passing out through conduit 30.

When dirty parts are to be cleaned, the parts tray 24 is hung in the dotted line position of Fig. 3; conduit 42 is removed from association with the machine; cover I4 is closed; the valve in section 33 is closed by manipulating handle 38;

and the valve in section 34 is opened by the operator.

Under such conditions, switch 44 is manipulated to insure the operation of motor 28, whereuponpump 26 will draw the cleaning solution from tank l6 out through conduit 30, and thence back into tank 16 through conduit section 34. The solution will pour from the end of conduit 34 (Fig. 3), and onto the parts in tray 24 to remove grease, oil and dirt therefrom. The solution falls into the bottom of tank l6 and flows therefrom when the level reaches the point where conduit 30 communicates with the tank. Under such conditions and when parts are being cleaned, the level of the solution in tank [6 should be maintained just above the end of conduit 30.

The volume of the cleaning solution being circulated, may be controlled through the speed of motor and pump 28 and 26 respectively, or by manipulating the valve handles 38 and 40 respectively. v

When a machine such as described is used, the operator has full control of the volume of solution employed and may quickly clean the engine block or parts withoutobjectionable muss or wastage of the cleaning solution, which may be used again-and-again, due to the ability of the machine to settle-out the foreign matter.

Equipment having physical characteristics different from those described may be made with out departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Apparatus for cleaning the cooling system of an engine comprising a mobile framework; an open top tank secured to said framework adjacent the uppermost end thereof and adapted to contain a filling of cleaning fluid; a foraminous tray normally resting in an inverted position in the tank upon the bottom thereof and in covering relationship to the latter; a fluid pump and prime mover therefor underlying said tank and mounted on the framework; a tube interconnecting the inlet of said pump and the tank above said tray on the bottom of the tank; a pair of conduits adapted to extend to opposed points of connection with an engine cooling system to be cleaned, one of said conduits joining with the outlet of said pump, the other conduit passing into the tank and terminating at one end thereof within said tray; means on the tray for hooking the same in an upright position on the uppermost edge of the tank, said one conduit having a pair of branches, one branch being adapted to lead to one of said points of connection with the cooling system, the other branch extending into said open top of the tank for flushing articles to be cleaned and carried by the tray when in said upright position; and a shut-off valve for each branch respectively for controlling the fluid flow therein as the pump is placed in operation.

ALBERT J. BOYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 392,517 King Nov. 6, 1888 1,299,698 Fitzgerald Apr. 8, 1919 1,721,444 Habel July 16, 1929 1,799,105 Lasko Mar. 31, 1931 1,820,608 Engel Aug. 25, 1931 1,938,254 Hinson Dec. 5, 1933 1,955,199 Menge Apr. 1'7, 1934 2,053,199 Melchers Sept. 1, 1936 2,222,513 Mulvaney Nov. 19, 1940 2,299,965 Davis Oct. 27, 1942 2,300,450 Saussure Nov. 3, 1942 2,347,760 Wulstein May 2, 1944 2,385,150" Miller Sept. 18, 1945 

